Opening Prayer: Lead us not into temptation, O Lord, but
deliver us from evil. For yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-4
Journal: What do you try to feed on other than God?
Reflection:
One of the first temptations we come across in this
life of faith, it seems, is the temptation to feed ourselves. Or, more specifically, the temptation to feed
on something that was never intended to be food in the first place. I don’t know about you, but I tend to feed on
so many things other than Jesus, so many things that were never intended to be
the food my soul most deeply longs for.
For instance, I feed on affirmation, I feed on
achievement, I feed on attention, I feed on applause, I feed on
reputation; the list just goes on and on.
God desires me to feed only on him, for
then, and only then, will I be able to love those he has called me to love
without feeding on them. Therefore, when I am hungry in the depths of my
soul; when I am starving to be loved, or to be cared for, or to be noticed, or to
be affirmed, I really need to be careful.
The enemy is very subtle, and before I know it, I will stop feeding on
Jesus and start feeding on the very people Jesus has called me to
feed. And the kicker is that I might never know the difference until it's
almost too late; until my soul is near death, until I am starving for the
bread I was truly created to eat (see John 6:48-51), and until those that I
have been called to feed have been devoured and have also devoured me in the
process, in one gigantic dysfunctional feeding frenzy.
"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Or, in others words, "Make something food that was never intended to be food. Take matters into your own hands. Feed yourself. Be self-sufficient. After all, you're hungry. You've got a right to care for your own needs." It is a familiar mindset in our world. One that is even applauded and held up as an inspiration and an example of character and strength.
But Jesus knew better. “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” he replied. And a beautiful reply it is. Almost as if to say, "I will feed on nothing, or no one, other than God. It is on him alone that I will feed." O Lord Jesus, Bread of Life, help us to feed on you and you alone. For man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Or, in others words, "Make something food that was never intended to be food. Take matters into your own hands. Feed yourself. Be self-sufficient. After all, you're hungry. You've got a right to care for your own needs." It is a familiar mindset in our world. One that is even applauded and held up as an inspiration and an example of character and strength.
But Jesus knew better. “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” he replied. And a beautiful reply it is. Almost as if to say, "I will feed on nothing, or no one, other than God. It is on him alone that I will feed." O Lord Jesus, Bread of Life, help us to feed on you and you alone. For man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Prayer
Closing Prayer: O Lord Jesus, Bread of Life, help us to feed
on you and you alone. For man does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
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